Meet our letter writers: Victor Privett

Retired horse farm worker, 68, Nicholasville, Fayette County native; two son, two daughters, three granddaughters and three grandsons; like biking, hiking, camping and have run 23 marathons since 1987; showed Jersey cattle as a kid.

What motivates you to write?

I like fighting for lost causes. I like to think I am Jefferson Smith going up against all the Jim Taylors of this country. I first saw Mr. Smith Goes to Washington when I was about 13. Then along came Jack Kennedy. There was the "I have a Dream" speech of Dr. Martin King Jr. My daddy was always a tenant farmer. We always had what we needed, but you knew where you came from. I never forgot that part.

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I have always had the gift of writing. The first letter I ever wrote was to Ann Landers when I was a kid. It was something about right and wrong. I don't know if she ever printed it or not. I am a great fan of It's a Wonderful Life and The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn. I am a history buff and read the complete Bible by the age of 13. My heroes also include George Washington, Daniel Boone and Moses.

What shaped your worldview?

I know we poor need the rich and the rich need us poor people. But it is high time we poor got a bigger piece of the pie. I believe our military has become the Sheriff of Nottingham. We need to cut military spending in half and spend this money on our infrastructure. Let other countries be their own peacemakers. We need to cut back on killing our own young people in wars that we do not need to be in.

When I was a kid, my daddy had some brood sows. When they had a litter, six or seven of them would grow big, strong and fat, while two or three would be runts.

This is what's wrong with this country. The middle and upper classes are getting all of the milk. You all call this a country of opportunities, but there is more opportunity for the haves than for the have-nots.

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